The “comp” craze in golf has really hit a fever pitch. Comp this, comp that when will it end? More and more companies have been adding a comp driver to their line up and the Launcher 460 Comp is Cleveland’s entry into the comp frenzy. Before we get to the Launcher let’s take a moment and review what exactly this whole comp thing is all about.It boils down to the redistribution of weight inside the clubhead.
Think of a driver head as a combination of 3 pieces the face, the crown and the rest of the body. The focus used to be (and still is to a degree) on the clubface companies tried to make it as thin as possible to increase distance and forgiveness. Remember the big debate over “COR” a few years ago?
That was about face thickness and the “trampoline effect” of the face a thinner face had more “spring” to it and therefore it hit the ball further. Companies then shifted their focus to the crown and body of the club. They wanted to find different ways of making these thinner and lighter. If they could make these lighter (while keeping them strong), they could then move more weight around inside the head. Why would they want to move weight around in the head? If they could add weight to the heel and toe it would keep the club more stable on miss hits.
Companies could add weight to the back of the club and increase launch angle. The more weight available to be moved, the more options you have when building a club. We all knew that titanium was light but companies wanted something lighter and they started fooling around with various composites.
Why not make the crown out of a lightweight composite and use the weight that you save from the crown and redistribute it to other areas of the head? Companies liked this idea and the “comp” craze was born.The Cleveland Launcher 460 Comp is a spinoff of the successful Cleveland Launcher Titanium line. The 460CC clubhead is a combination of fiber composite and titanium. The composite crown is much lighter than a traditional titanium one and this allows Cleveland to redistribute 25 grams of weight to other areas of the head. This weight has been placed in three areas the heel, the toe and the back.
Extra weight on the heel and toe increase the MOI of the club and makes it more stable on miss hits. The extra weight in the back (along the sole) increases the launch angle and decreases spin. This redistribution of weight is designed to help the average golfer. The face of the Launcher 460 Comp is very thin and very forgiving. This driver is only available with graphite shafts and the stock Fujikura shaft is good for a mid to high handicapper. The Aldila NV and Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue are considered upgrades but I have had no problem getting them at no extra charge.
A mid to high handicapper would probably really like the Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue shaft in this club it is a great combination.Our testers loved the Launcher Comp. We had a lot of positive comments on the look of the club (the 460CC size is hidden very well) and the sound of the club (it does not sound like a tin can). This driver hits the ball a long ways and it is great on miss hits.
Most of our testers agree that the Launcher Comp is the best composite driver on the market but also agree that the high price might scare away the weekend golfer. We had a few people mention that the ball flight (especially with the stock shaft) was very high but that’s easily fixed by changing the shaft or loft.
Try the Cleveland Launcher 460 Comp you’ll probably like it!Overall Rating – 90%Target Handicap: AnyoneBall Flight: HighLofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 11.5 degreesShafts: Fujikura “Launcher Comp” graphite although the Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue and Aldila NV have been available at no charge.
Technology and SpecsWhen Cleveland introduced their newest driver, I was admittedly skeptical on how it would compete in terms of tech with their Srixon Golf cousins. I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say Cleveland is better known for their scoring clubs, so this new foray into the tee game is an interesting upgrade.The Launcher HB Turbo driver features deep weighting in the clubhead, with much of it being pushed to the back of the head. The new turbocharged cup face is a wafer-thin titanium design that flexes at impact and reflects energy back into the golf ball at impact. These two attributes assist with boosting speed across the clubface, along with helping you get the ball into the air faster. What many will notice, of course, is the new Hibore crown design that appears similar to a competing brand’s design. This aerodynamic design features ridges along the crown, and when combined with the club’s ultralight hosel and 35 grams of deep weighting, your golf ball is destined to get airborne easily.
Performance and FeelOur initial test of the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo included the stock Miyazaki C. Kua shaft, which features a nice counterbalance design.
Cleveland Launcher Driver
Our reviewer used the 9.0 degree clubhead model in the test.Let’s just get this out of the way from the start: this driver is loud. The sound at impact is sharp, thanks to the thin face mentioned above. While the sound doesn’t suggest “cheapness”, players more accustomed to muted drivers will need to adjust. The distances you’ll get from the Launcher HB Turbo helps you forget about the sound. Our reviewer averaged 17 more yards in comparison to his gamer, with spin rates averaging 2300 - 2600 rpm. Launch was a bit lower than expected, however, coming in at just under 12 degrees on average. This is likely due to the reviewer’s tendency to catch the ball lower on the face, as more solid drives saw launch increase to above 14 degrees.Forgiveness and dispersion was very encouraging as well.
Golf Driver Shaft
Shots off the toe or heel geared back toward the center line nicely, and distance loss on these shots was noticeable but not punitive. Overall ImpressionThe Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo ($349.99) is a great option for players who are looking for something different off the tee. This driver doesn’t have a lot any moving parts or adjustability options, and that’t not a bad thing. If you’re a player who knows what you need in a driver profile, you’ll love the simplicity of this club.The driver performed admirably in our initial test, especially in terms of distance and control. Additional testing with a focus on launch conditions is needed, but early indications point to a winner from Cleveland Golf.For more information on the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo driver and the entire Launcher series.